Moriah Harbour Cay National Park boat trip

Across Elizabeth Harbour from George Town, Moriah Harbour Cay National Park covers almost 23,000 acres of beach, dunes, mangrove creeks, blue holes, coral reef and seagrass between Stocking Island and Little Exuma. Boat trips here are short and calm compared with the run up to the pig cays. Half-day outings near Great Exuma pair the park with sea turtles at Hooper's Bay and Starfish Beach, which makes them the easier choice for young children, beginner snorkellers and anyone who gets seasick.

The places to stop are few and well known. The coral at Fowl Cay is the snorkelling reef. On Moriah Harbour Cay itself trails cross the dunes, and on the eastern end of Stocking Island a nature trail leads past Basil's Classroom. Basil Minns, a local birdwatcher and fisherman, led the long campaign to protect the area. Turtles, conch, lobster, grouper and sharks live in the water, and the cays are good for birds. Kayaking, kiteboarding and bonefishing are allowed, and the park has a warden.

Rolle Town, Hartswell and The Ferry sit right on its edge, and their families have lived off these waters for generations.